Sedgefield track 'good to go' after two fatal accidents caused abandonment

Clerk of the course Michael Naughton insists Sedgefield is "good to go" as the track stages its first fixture on Tuesday since racing was abandoned there earlier this month after two horses suffered fatal injuries in the same race.

Sweet Auburn and Thermusa were fatally injured in separate incidents in a 2m4f hurdle on November 3 and the meeting was cancelled with two races remaining after officials, trainers and jockeys inspected the course

As a consequence, last week's Sedgefield meeting was transferred to Newcastle and four further fixtures have been moved elsewhere, with the Durham track's reduced schedule for the rest of 2022 now consisting of Tuesday's fixture and one on December 2.

A thorough investigation of the racing surface has not revealed any issues, but changes have been made to the course.

"We've realigned the bend again by pushing the inside rail out so it's on a perfect line and that is where it will stay," Naughton said.

"We've made it as good as it can be and there's obviously still the same camber on it but no ground works can be done and nothing has been found.

"There's nothing wrong with the ground and they literally were unfortunate incidents. It happens at various racecourses that they lose a horse in one race and then the next race, and it just happened there were two in the same race.

"We lost four horses last season unfortunately but that was the total of the whole season and this has been just one of those things. We're all good to go and the track is looking better than it has ever looked."

The track's lucrative Boxing Day card has moved to Newcastle alongside racedays on March 30 and May 16, while the February 8 card will go to Southwell.

The moves, designed to assist with maintenance and increase recovery time between meetings, are accompanied by a reduction in maximum field sizes for all races.

"We race 21 times here in the winter generally and it's one of the narrowest tracks in the country," said Naughton. "It's just to give it a bit of breathing space and every little bit helps. It's not ideal but it gives us every opportunity to get it as near perfect as can be."

A total of 44 horses were declared for Tuesday's seven races – for which the ground was on Monday described as soft with 5mm of rain forecast overnight – compared to 46 at the corresponding meeting last year when six races took place.

"We'd like more runners on the card but with the way things have happened people are probably going to keep it as a watching brief at the moment just to see how things go," Naughton added.

Read more . . .

Festive blow for Sedgefield as Boxing Day fixture one of four racedays moved

Racing abandoned at Sedgefield after fifth race marred by two fatalities

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